Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-03
THE PLANETS.
soMx OF THE BEAUTIES or THE HgA-
VEINS DURING JULY.
The Movements Of that Bewitebiog Star
venus-The Course OF Saturn
The Noon.
Providence Jonrnnll


. twin sister grows more brilliant as
night after night she draws nearer 10
us, presenting during the month almost
her brightest aspect as with bewitching
grace she makes her shining way in her
appointed course. During the first
half of the month she is on the meri-
dian about o'clock in the afternoon.
IL the atmosphere DO clear she may be
found, at that time. near the meridian
or point overhead, either with the
naked eye or with an opera-glass, look
ing ike an intense white point. If q
telescope be used her appearance will
be like that of the moon at the last
quarter.
Venus is very near the bright star
Reeulus, or Alpha Leonis, on the 4th.
The conjunction takes place at 10
O'Clock in the evening. the planet being
at that time Il IA north OF the star.
Regulus is the first magnitude star in
the handle Of the Sickle. The other
star in the handle is Eta Leonis, and
these who watch the celestial meeting
will see Venus pass between the two
stars. The conjunction occurs very
near the time when the actors in the
scene disappear below the horizon,
Venus setting on the eth few minutes
before 10 o'clock. 1t will therefore be
an interesting phenomenon TO observe.
The bright moonlight will dim the
lustre Of Regulus, but will have little
effect on Venus. An opera-glass will
be great help in watching the scene.
Those who wish for ocular proof that
Venus met and passed Regulus will find
her east Of the star on the evening of
the 9TH.
AS Venus moves on her eastward
path che is in conjunction with Gamma
Loonis, star of the second magnitude,
on the eth, and in close conjunction
with Rho Leonis, star OF the fourth
magnitude, on the 1lth.
On the 18th, at midnight. the fairest
OF the stars reaches her greatest east
ern elongation. and is then as 80 east
of the sun. She Is at her most distant
point from the sun, and her progress
eastward is stopped. She retraces her
steps and approaches the sun, at the
same time approaching the earth and
growing all the time larger aud more
brilliant. She will be surprisingly
lovely through the whole month OF
July, but will lessen the length of her
stay above the horizon rs she draws
near the sun, thus proving that her
course has changed. Her northern de-
clination rapidly decreases during the
month this also lessons her stay above
the horizon. but will not prevent her
from being the most attractive feature
in the siarlit July sky. On the 1st
Venus sets nearly two hours and a half
after Che sun. On the 3lst she sets
little more than IA hour and half al-
tor the sun.
J he night ascension OF Venus on the
1st is h. 5Cm., her dcclination is Il
Be- north, her diameter IS ZIG, and
she is iii the constellation Leo.
Venus sets on the list few minutes
before 10 O'Clock in the evening; on
the 3lst she sets about quarter before
9 o'clock.
JUrITFR is evening star. Until the
18th this brilliant planet will appear to
he almost immovable, remaining about
companion Spica. The 5ondof brother
hood will then be broken, as Jupiter
moves eastward in direct motion, and
slowly travels away from his longtime
friend. On the 3lst the space between
planet and star will measure nearly 7.
On the 3lst of August the distance be-
tween them will he nearly IL. Jupi-
ter. like Venus, is moving rapidly
southwark, and this shortens his stay
above the horizon. The two rival
planets appear upon the scene as soon
as the sun sets, in directly opposite
parts Of the sky. Jupiter rising in the
southeast and Venus setting in the
northwest.
On the 18th, at O'Clock in the eve
ming, an interesting event occurs in the
history of our giant brother planet.
He is in quadrature with the sun on
his eastern side, being 90 east, Just
half way between opposition and con-
junction. He is then fair to see as he
looks down from the meridian at sun
set and sinks below the horizon at mid
night. enjoying this distinction over
the peerless Venus, that while she can
not be seen but three hours after sun
set or before sunrise, lie can shine
brightly on the midnight sky or rise
in the east as the sun sinks in the
west,
The right ascension of Jupiter on
the LIST is l3h. 39m., his declinatiOn is
s. 80 south, his diameter is -, and
be is in the constellation Virgo.
Jupiter sets on the 1st about quar-
ter of an hour after midnight F.; on the
3lst lie sets quarter after 10 o'clock
in the evening.
SATURN is evening star until the 18th,
when he makes his bow to his terres-
trial audience and reappears in new
character. On the 18th, at II o'clock
III tie evening, the ringed planet is in
conjunction with the sun, passes be-
yond him, and, changing his position
TO the suns western side, commences
his career as morning star For about
two months he viii be too near the sun
to he visible, but during the latter part
al September he will adorn the SKY in
the small hours OF the morning, when
be will be found at a considerable dis
tance southeast of his last years COM
ranions, Castor aud POlluX.
The night ascension of Saturn on the
1h IS IL. Ism, bis declination is %
q north, his diameter is 1916, and he
is in the constellation Gemini.
Saturn sets on the LIST about quar-
ter after o'clock in the evening on
the 31st he rises at quarter before
O'Clock in the morning.
MERCURY is evening star till the 2Sth
and morning star after that time. On
the lst, at 3 o'clock in the morning,
this feet-footed planet reaches his
greatest eastern elongation, being then
90 81 east of the sun. and sets an hour
and half later than the sun. Obsery-
ers with good eyes will find him during
the first week in July, in the west,
three quarters OF al hour after sunset.
His decreasing Northern declinstion
will interfere with his visibility, al
though he is approaching the earth and
Increasing in size.
On the 2Sth, at midnight, Mercury
is in inferior conjunction with the sun
and completes his course as evening
star Passing between the earth and
the sun, be reappears on his western
side and becomes morning star. com
mencing his westward oscillation from
the sun. Observers will note his rapid